Helio Martinborough Pinot Noir, 2020
Tech Specs:
PH: 3.68
TA: 6.10
Alc: 13.52%
Residual Sugar: <1g/L
Date harvested: 24th March 2020
Bottle closure: natural cork 45mm (twice tested)
Bottles Produced: 1836
Viticulture
Hawkes Bay is our home, but Pinot Noir prefers a slightly cooler, calmer environment. Luckily for us and our pinosita Sarah, Martinborough just over the hill from Hawkes Bay, making for a nice drive and the ideal place in New Zealand to grow world class Pinot Noir. The vineyard is located out Lake ferry road. It is said to be the most southern North Island vineyard. The fruit is Abel clone located on a gentle northern slope with heavy clay soils.
2020
2020 was a great vintage in martinborough. The spring was super windy which kept crops in balance. A relatively dry year led to optimal ripening. The fruit was picked at 24 brix the day before the regional borders closed.
Winemaking
Put it in a tank…did 4 punch downs…left on skins for 25 days, about 45% whole bunch. Pressed to barrel where malolactic fermentation occured at some point before sulphuring in spring.
Tasting notes Pinot Noir 2020
A raw ruby tone in the glass that’s quite enthralling to look at. The aromatics are quintessential Martinborough, fresh Doris plum, bramble and dark berries give way to a savoury spiced layer of herbs and dusted crumble ready to be baked. The fruit profile is matched on the palate with incredibly fine, dusty tannins that give the wine a very Burgundian feel, no doubt from it’s Able Clone roots. Baked berry slice, Doris plum and a full spectrum of savoury spice make a complete wine. The toasted, spice finish shifts through stages with a consistent texture from those fine dusty tannins that linger for a long time.